Monday, October 14, 2013

(Rye, New York)- The classic fall offshore sailing series on Long Island
Sound got off to a spectacular start on its first weekend. But, the
luck was not going to hold with gigantic swings in the weather and the
USA's ginormous budget-busting battles full of hot-air down in
Washington, DC-- no question that amount of "hot air" was surely going
to have its affects as far north as Wall Street and their favorite
playground- Long Island Sound! No question, the DC goons were "raining
on everyone's parade" this past weekend. What could've been a brilliant
weekend for Saturday and Sunday turned into a goofy day of racing on
Saturday and a wet, foggy, misty easterly on Sunday. Heck, if you were a
betting man (or trading guru) you would've shorted the markets
worldwide Monday at dawn, such was the gloom! But, a few Mt Gay &
tonics and local micro-breweries tempered the atmosphere to simply a
dull roar for the awards Sunday afternoon.

The American YC RC took their time on Saturday (much to their chagrin)
to get in only one race on the East Course while the West Course guys
got in two races. But, both AYC RC's took the bit in their teeth to get
the ball rolling on Sunday to get in two solid races for all.

Winning IRC B was the J/122 WINGS sailed by Mike Bruno and crew, posting
a 1-2-2-1-3-2-2-2 score for 12 pts. Just behind them in third was
stablemate J/122 PATRIOT helmed by Stephen Furnary (the same boat that
won with all the AYC Juniors in the recent Stamford-Vineyard Race!)-
they posted a 2-1-1-3-4-3-3-4 for 17 pts. Lying fourth after the
weekend's sailing was Ron Richman's J/133 ANTIDOTE with 12 pts.

PHRF
A class had three J/111s sailing and Paul Strauch's crew on ANDIAMO
started out the series on the first weekend as top dog amongst the 111s,
continuing their great performance this summer at Storm Trysail's Block
Island Race Week. However, in the end the ANDIAMO gang "kissed" a rock
on the way into Mamaroneck Harbor Saturday afternoon and withdrew from
Sunday's sailing. Only one point back after the previous weekend, the
PARTNERSHIP team led by David and Maryellen Tortorello sailed fast and
smart and posted a 2-3 on the last Sunday to take over 3rd spot for the
series!

What happened in PHRF C Division? The one with all the 30 footers? The
usual suspects all occupied the top spots led by the famous father/son
team of John & Tony Esposito on their J/29 HUSTLER. However, giving
them a serious "run for the money", perhaps for the first time in
decades, was Tom & Julie Sinatra's J/29 SMOKIN'J, taking second by
just a mere 3 points after the smoke cleared on the race course. Do we
smell a "rubber match" here between these two teams?? Hmm, could be
possible. Third was Christian Uecker's J/92 HOUND DOG and fifth was
Aleksandr Tichter's J/29 AKULA.

The cool, classic cruiser-racers, the two decades old J/44 one-design
class, had yet another amazingly tough battle for leadership in the
class. At the end of the day, it was a fantastic turnout of nine boats,
kudos for Jim Bishop (Jamestown, RI/ New York, NY) and friends for
keeping this extraordinary class rolling along with fun competition.
This time, Bill Ketcham's MAXINE took three straight bullets on the
first weekend to overcame Jim Bishop's GOLD DIGGER two 1sts on the last
day to take the overall J/44 crown! With MAXINE in first and "the
DIGGER" in second, Len Sitar's VAMP narrowly edged out the balance of
the competition for third overall. Fourth was Jeff Willis's CHALLENGE
IV and fifth was Joerge Esdorn & Duncan Hennes's J/44 KINCSEM
(notably getting their first 1st place in class in the 6th race of the
series)!

The
J/109s had ten boats participating with some new names at the front of
the fleet. The early leaders on the first weekend were Jim Vos's SKOOT
in first, Bill Rogers's BIG BOAT in second and Jack Forehand's
STRATEGERY in third. However, over the course of the second weekend of
racing, there was no way to hold back perennial J/109 Class champion,
Rick Lyall sailing STORM. Compiling three 1sts and a 2-4 in the last
five races permitted the STORM crew to scream up the finish ladder to
win the regatta by 7 pts! Others who had been in the top five were not
so fortunate. Forehand's STRATEGERY also sailed fast the last weekend
to grab second overall. After some forgettable races in the last six
starts, Vos's SCOOT dropped to third overall, losing the tie-breaker at
34 pts each with STRATEGERY. Fourth was Adrian Begley's MAD DOGS &
ENGLISHMEN and fifth Rogers's BIG BOAT.

The J/105s had a great turnout with nineteen boats, great racing and
some new rising stars in the fleet. By simply sailing in the top three
all series long, Sean & Susan Doyle's KESTREL led the fleet home
with a remarkably consistent scoreline of 2-3-4-2-2-4-2-2-3-3-2 for 25
pts net. George & Alex Wilbanks's REVELATION held on tight to their
position in second from the weekend before to take the silver. The same
was true for third place, taken by perennial class champion Damian
Emery sailing ECLIPSE. In fact, the entire top five finish positions
from the first weekend never changed! Imagine that?! What are the odds
of that ever happening in any fleet of this size. Consequently, Paul
Beaudin's LOULOU took fourth and fifth was Jeremy Henderson's
CONUNDRUM. Sailing photo credits- Tom Young/ American YC
For more American YC Fall Series sailing information